Nasa’s future at stake: Congress budget cuts could fundamentally shift agency focus

Nasa's future is at a critical crossroads as Congress considers deep budget cuts that could slash funding for science projects by nearly 50%, potentially halting 40 ongoing or planned missions.

The agency's budget request has ignited political tensions, notably between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, exacerbating uncertainty about the direction of US space exploration.

Dr Simeon Barber, a space scientist at the Open University, described the uncertainty as having a "chilling impact" on the human space programme.

The proposed cuts have alarmed experts across the space community. Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at the Planetary Society, called it "the biggest crisis ever to face the US space programme."

If Congress approves these reductions, Dr Adam Baker, a space analyst at Cranfield University, warned it would fundamentally shift Nasa's focus away from its current scientific and exploratory missions.

This potential pivot raises concerns about the long-term vision and capabilities of the agency, which has historically led global space exploration efforts. The cuts threaten to stall scientific progress and diminish the US's leadership in space.

As political disputes continue, the fate of Nasa's ambitious projects hangs in the balance, with significant implications for science, technology, and international space collaboration.

The agency and its supporters are calling for renewed commitment to funding to preserve the momentum of human and robotic space exploration.

Nasa faces deep budget cuts proposed by Congress, threatening nearly half of its science projects and 40 missions. Experts warn this could fundamentally shift the agency's focus and chill the human space program, marking a major crisis for US space exploration amid political disputes.